GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and former President Donald Trump have asserted that Ashli Babbitt, a woman fatally shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer on Jan. 6, 2021, was "murdered." But House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has said that the officer was just doing his job.
Noting that Greene said Babbitt had been murdered, someone asked McCarthy whether he believed that Babbitt was murdered or if he thought that the officer was performing his job. McCarthy responded by saying that he thought the "officer did his job."
McCarthy rejects claim that Jan. 6 rioter was murderedwww.youtube.com
Trump, who is running for president again, took to Truth Social to disagree with McCarthy, who he recently supported during a speaker election last month. Greene had also backed McCarthy during the drawn-out process. McCarthy finally clinched the speakership on the 15th round of voting.
"I totally disagree with the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, in that the Police Officer 'Thug,' who has had a very checkered past to begin with, was not just 'doing his job' when he shot and killed Great Patriot Ashli Babbitt at point blank range," Trump wrote. "Despite trying to keep him anonymous, shielded, and protected, this MISFIT proudly showed up on NBC Fake Nightly News 'bragging' about the killing. He was not a hero but a COWARD, who wanted to show how tough he was. ASHLI BABBITT WAS MURDERED!!!"
Babbitt was fatally shot by Lt. Michael Byrd during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The U.S. Capitol Police Office of Professional Responsibility ruled that the officer's behavior was both legal and within department policy, according to a press release. "The officer's actions were consistent with the officer's training and USCP policies and procedures," the press release states.
"I've watched the videos of Ashli Babbit's murder," Greene tweeted. "Yes she was inside the Capitol, but the only violence she committed was punching another J6’er in the face after he broke the window. Not an officer or law maker, she punched a J6'er & tried to stop them, then Byrd shot her."
\u201cI\u2019ve watched the videos of Ashli Babbit\u2019s murder.\n\nYes she was inside the Capitol, but the only violence she committed was punching another J6\u2019er in the face after he broke the window.\n\nNot an officer or law maker, she punched a J6\u2019er & tried to stop them, then Byrd shot her.\u201d— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1675441901
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